Tsunami Hazard

Tsu = harbor

Nami = wave

(Japanese terms)

A tsunami is a series of travelling

waves most commonly generated

by vertical displacements of the sea

floor associated with earthquakes

below or near the ocean floor that

cause a huge amount of seawater

to be abruptly displaced.

What is a Tsunami?

Near-field/ local Tsunamis Near-field tsunamis: tsunamis that occur within 200 km of the epicentre of an earthquake

Local tsunamis: tsunami from a nearby source for which its destructive effects are confined to coasts within less than 200 km

Far-field Tsunamis Far-field tsunamis: a tsunami originating from thousands of kilometres from the affected areas; usually starting as a near-field tsunami that causes extensive destruction near the source and additional casualties and destruction on shores more than 1000 km from its source

Categories of Tsunamis

1. Vertical movement of the seafloor related to

subduction zone earthquakes (95)

2. Submarine volcanic eruptions (5)

3. Submarine landslides (1)

4. Extraterrestrial: Meteor impact

(Approx. number of tsunamis for different sources since 1900 in Indonesia)

What Cause a Tsunami?

The Tectonic Plate Movement

6 Earthquake

Principles of Plate Tectonics

Subduction Zone

Vertical Movement generates Tsunami

Located under the sea (submarine

earthquake)

Depth of the centre of the submarine

earthquake is less than 100 km

Magnitude 7 or more in Richter Scale

The movement of the tectonic plate occurs

vertically

Parameter for Tsunamigenic Earthquakes

Tsunami Prone Areas in Indonesia

Destructive Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Indonesia (1992 – April 2012)

EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

EARTHQUAKE

Lampung 1994

Jambi 1995

Alor 2004

Timor 1995 NTT 1992

Biak 1996

Banyuwangi 1994 Pangandaran 2006

Irian Jaya 2002

Aceh 2004 Minahasa Peninsula 1996

Sumbar 2005

Nias 2005

Seram 2006

Bengkulu 2007

Padang 2009

Tasikmalaya 2009

Papua 2009

Mentawai 2010

Maluku 1994

Sulteng 1997

Maluku 1998 Banggai 2000

Bengkulu 2000

Aceh 2002

NTT 2003

Sulut 2003

NTB 2004

Irian Jaya 2004

NTT 2004

Sumbar 2007

NTB 2007

Minahasa 2008

Papua Serui 2010

Papua 2011

Aceh 2012

Jateng 2006

Tsunami Characteristics

Ground shaking from a strong earthquake

Seawater withdrawal in a very quick and

unusual way

A roaring sound that resembles the sound of an

airplane of train

Strong winds blow from the sea to the coast

Unusually smells waft from the beach

Unusual animal behavior: p.e. animals run

away from the coast

Natural Warning Signs

The Impact of Tsunamis

Damages caused by Tsunamis

Tsunami Hazard Assessment

• Information on source areas

• Historical events

• Paleo-tsunami studies

• Scenarios

• Estimated travel times from source areas

• Wave height at coast

• Areas inland to be affected by tsunamis (in terms

of maximum inundation, flow depths, probability)

Approaches for Hazard Mapping

1. “Bathtube” Model - based on topography only:

Kuta / Lombok

2. Based on topography but incorporating local

knowledge and a rule based wave attenuation

factor: Bantul

3. Single scenario approach - most credible or worst

case: Padang

4. Multi-scenario approaches: Southern Bali

Level 1: Tsunami Hazard Map for Kuta-Lombok

Level 2: Tsunami Hazard Map for Bantul

Level 3: Tsunami Inundation Map for Padang

Level 4: Tsunami Hazard Map for southern Bali

Hazard & Disaster Risk

Natural hazards do not necessarily cause disasters. A disaster occurs only

if a population is exposed to the natural hazard and cannot cope with its

effects.

Hazard: A dangerous phenomenon, substance,

human activity or condition that may cause loss of life,

injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss

of livelihoods and services, social and economic

disruption, or environmental damage

Vulnerability: The characteristics and circumstances

of a community, system or asset that make it

susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard

Risk: The combination of the probability of an event

and its negative consequences

UNISDR Terminology

www.gitews.org/tsunami-kit

Project for Training, Education and Consulting for

Tsunami Early Warning System (PROTECTS)

Capacity Development in Local Communities